Many people have fireplaces in their homes and we are going to talk about a specific type of fireplace that is not so common. A gas fireplace is a great way to add both heat and ambiance to your home. Gas fireplaces are also very efficient, using less energy than electric or wood-burning fireplaces. In fact, gas fireplaces can be up to 99% efficient, meaning that almost all of the heat produced by the fireplace goes into your home. This efficiency is due in part to the fact that gas fireplaces do not require a chimney. Instead, they vent directly to the outside through a small pipe. This means that there is no heat loss up the chimney as with a wood-burning fireplace. Additionally, gas fireplaces can be used in conjunction with your furnace and HVAC system. This allows you to use your fireplace for heating without affecting the temperature of your entire home. You can also use your thermostat to control the amount of heat that is produced by the fireplace, making it easy to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. If you are considering adding a gas fireplace to your home, be sure to consult with a qualified HVAC rep to ensure that it is properly installed and vented. And if you are going with a normal wood burning one then be sure to keep it cleaned regularly so that fires are not an issue. We made the mistake of not cleaning the fireplace for a long time and it almost burned down the entire house one winter when the flue caught fire.